Instrument woes

[browny]

Hello people. This is my first post so Hi to all.

My temp gauge is bouncy. I have new sensors (chasing a previous overheating probllem) I have cleaned and tightened the grounding nuts on the back of the cluster. It is not as bad as it used to be but still not right. It now also reads differently (goes between the 2nd quarter and the half way mark, when it used to sit on half when not bouncing) Is there anything else I can do to try and fix this annoyance. Sorry for the long post

[Geeman]

Mine bounces too... so I replaced both the temp sensors too!

Still the same.

Interested in reading the replies myself...

Giles.

[Davenotouring]

Hi,

I had a bouncing petrol gauge, I replaced the whole cluster and it doesn't do it anymore.

I think the Service Indicator board batteries could be to blame.

[E30Adam]

It'll be a fault in the cluster somewhere, just switch it for one from a scrappy and it should work. Mine bounces too because I can't be arsed to change it

[Guest]

though it sounds to me like your temp gauge is reading just right....

[rare]

I think they all have issues Sometimes I have to give mine a whack to get the rev counter working, and depending on how it feels the fuel guage does its own thing.

I had the same problem with my 316, replaced the cluster and had the same thing!

[browny]

thanks for your responses everyone. I thought it might be a circuit board issue but I was in denial. I'll have to replace it and see what happens. By the way, my si batteries are ok. My service indicator works well so it can't be that..

[Guest]

If you've changed the temp sensors it can only be the instrument cluster or the wiring joining the two. Get an electrician to test all the earthing points and wiring or, if you can't be arsed, just buy a new cluster. I've seen two on ebay recently, both fully working off '89 E30's for less than twenty five quid.

[gioris4]

My temp gauge bounces too, but only when it's a bit under the middle. Then it stops and comes back to the right position when I hit it a bit. My mechanic says that I should change the instrument.

[browny]

When I rang up BMW about replacing the gauge, they said it was very rare that the gauge itself would fail. When I found out the price for a new one I decided that they probably know what they are talking about

[Guest]

Rare my ass, just about every old beemer has problems of some kind with the cluster. All four of mine have at some point
Old electronics around since the 80's are the problem, not necessarily that BMW have used crap gear. You can send them away to be professionally refurbished - ie they check all the circuit boards and gauges, resoldering and regrounding where necessary but it's cheaper just to buy a secondhand cluster. Make sure you know it's 100% working though!